Fr. Simon's Letter - December 10, 2023

A couple of years ago, one of the columnists in the Chicago Tribune wrote, “Christmas is Coming Fast: Here are the things you should be panicking about.” Among the nine things he mentions, twice he suggests that we should be panicking if we are not doing so already.

As we light the second candle on the Advent wreath, we hear one of the familiar voices of Advent, John the Baptist. He came to announce a new, radical message from the wilderness of the desert. John did not go to the crowds in the temple; the people went to the desert to hear him. As the gospel tells us, “all of Judaea and the whole of the Jordan district made their way to him.” Perhaps the people were tired, even bored, of what they were hearing in temple. Perhaps John arrived at the right time, and their ears and hearts were open and ready to receive this new message.

The challenging question was, and still is: are our ears and hearts open to hear what John the Baptist has to say to us? What is this message that John brings that people went so far into the desert to hear? It is a message of repentance. Just as John asked them to look at their own lives, he asks us to look honestly at our lives today. John asks us to change our lives to prepare the way of the Lord.

Over these coming days and weeks of Advent, we will be busy in so many ways getting ready to celebrate the birth of Christ. There will be shopping for presents and gifts, the buying of food, cleaning and decorating our homes, and the writing of Christmas cards. These are all a part of our preparation for the Christmas season. But they are only one part of getting ready for Christmas. The words and message of John the Baptist echo down through the centuries, and they are as relevant and important to us today as they were when John first proclaimed his message in the desert. We, too, are being called to repent and change, to prepare a way for the Lord and make his path straight.

If we only focus on and panic about the externals of getting ready to celebrate Christmas, we will not only miss some thing, we will miss some one. We look to the end of the gospel, and John tells us whom he is announcing and to whom he is drawing attention; Jesus Christ. 

On Saturday, December 16, the Filipino American Community Association of Queen of All Saints (FACA) will mark the 35th year of celebrating Simbang Gabi at our parish. Misa de Gallo or Simbang Gabi is an old Filipino religious tradition dating back to the late 16th century that is celebrated during the season of Advent in preparation for the coming of Jesus on Christmas. The missionary friars at that time held nine days of Masses to usher in the event of Christ’s birth, and this practice continues today. Traditionally, these Masses are celebrated in the early morning hours, typically at 4 am, when the roosters crow to announce the coming of a new day. Hence, it is called Misa de Gallo (gallo means rooster).

The missionary friars celebrated the Mass early in the morning to meet the needs of the people, most of whom were farmers. In this way, the farmers could attend Mass and ask blessings from God on their work and their harvest, before they headed out to the fields. In this way, the missionary friars could implant in the hearts and minds of the people the Catholic faith, and continue to spread the gospel by integrating a distinctly Filipino custom. Here in the Unites States, these Masses are celebrated in the evening to accommodate work schedules and make the celebration more accessible to families. Thus, the name is changed from Misa de Gallo to Simbang Gabi, which simply means Night Mass.

The experience of rising early in the morning and traveling to church in the dark adds an element of sacrifice to this season of preparation.  I invite you to join our parish celebration of Simbang Gabi Mass on Saturday, December 16, at 7 pm, and then enjoy the Filipino culture, food and hospitality that will be offered in the gym after Mass.

This Sunday evening, December 10, we will gather at 6:45 pm in the basilica for the Worldwide Candle Lighting Ceremony. At 7 pm, we will join others worldwide to pray with and for those who lost a child. This short prayer service helps us share the pain  of, and show our solidarity with, those who are hurting. In this season of giving, consider giving the gift of your time to pray with and for others.

Blessings!!